No one of conscience can afford to turn off the news of the world, Wallace Baine writes, but for our own good, we must step away from the fire hose of the doomscroll in favor of the books, movies or whatever represents our emotional homeland to keep ourselves in balance.
The Here & Now
Posted inCity Life
Karen Joy Fowler explores a famous American family in her latest novel
“Booth” is not primarily a story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, but of his family as a whole — and it’s out Tuesday, the same day its author, Santa Cruz’s Karen Joy Fowler, takes part in an in-person discussion on the UCSC campus.
Posted inCity Life
BOLO Best Bets: Big-name authors, ambitious music and art … and Boba Fett
Your place to go for things to do in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inCity Life
A sprawling canvas of COVID times
“This Is Now,” at the Radius Gallery at the Tannery, downtown’s Curated By the Sea and the R. Blitzer Gallery on the Westside, is an exhibition featuring 150 local artists that comes as audiences grow more comfortable returning to venues.
Posted inCity Life
Santa Cruz’s Ukrainian sister city is long way from war, but deeply entwined in its cultural conflict
The Black Sea resort town of Alushta has been part of the Soviet Union and Ukraine, then under the control of Russia, since it became a Santa Cruz sister city in 1987. And it doesn’t get less complicated from there, Wallace Baine found.
Posted inCity Life
BOLO Best Bets: Welcome back, chowderheads, and warm up with theater and art
Your place to go for things to do in Santa Cruz County.
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Cabrillo poised to unveil ‘Befana’ at the Crocker, plus Mermen news and Avant Garden Party returns
Yes, “Befana” is a Christmas fable, and Omicron delayed its premiere. But, Wallace Baine writes as he looks ahead to what’s coming on the local arts scene, the mini-opera’s spirit extends well beyond the holiday season.
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Wallace Baine: John Craigie’s longing for home stands out among the best songs ever written about California
A Santa Cruz cameo in a Super Bowl ad brings columnist Wallace Baine to thinking about one of Ingelwood’s native sons — the venue of this year’s football fest — and that person’s contributions to the musical mystic that is California. John Craigie, who performs locally next month, went to UCSC in the 90s and was transformed by the experience.
Posted inCity Life
BOLO Best Bets: Celebrate Black theater and otherwise get your groove on
Your place to go for things to do in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inCity Life
Wallace Baine: K-Squid proving that radio still has staying power
The tide seemed to be going out on radio when KSQD launched at 90.7 FM in 2019, amid growing audiences for Spotify and its ilk, but the community-focused station with distinctly local voices has proved Wallace Baine’s skepticism wrong and carved out a niche in Santa Cruz.